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Welcome back to our students
It has been great to welcome back our Foundation students this week on Monday to Wednesday and our Junior students today. We look forward to our Senior students returning to school tomorrow. The table below outlines the updated Roadmap out of Lockdown for students returning to school. Over the next two weeks we will continue with the staggered return to school. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the return to school, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher, the school office or to email me directly ejones@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au
During the staggered return to school, students will keep their 1-1 Chromebook with them. Please ensure the chromebook comes to school fully charged as we have limited charging facilities in the classrooms.
Operoo on-site supervision eform - a reminder to the eligible families (permitted workers not working from home and vulnerable/principal approved) to complete next week's eform if your child will require onsite supervision on their 'remote learning' days only - this ensures we have adequate staff rostered.
Parish News (Sacraments)
Sacramental Celebrations- First Eucharist Celebration Masses
A letter has been sent by the Parish notifying families of children who have been part of this year’s Sacrament preparations for First Eucharist. Parents need to contact the Parish with the necessary information as listed in the letter. Once the Parish has received the details you will be advised which mass families can attend.
Community Safety
For our community safety, we are unable to have parents and visitors on-site at school until further notice. We also are required to minimise groups of people gathering and therefore, during school drop off and pick up times, we ask parents to remain in their car and to utilise the drop off / pick up facility at the front of the school OR Lowry Court.
Student Drop Off – Mornings
Classes will open at 8.35 am and the school day will begin as usual at 8.45 am with Morning Meditation and Prayer. A teacher will be rostered on duty at the main entrance gate in the morning.
Staggered Student Pick Up – Afternoons (A-K 3.05 pm and L-Z 3.10 pm)
Sanitising Stations / Classroom Ventilation
Hand sanitising stations are set up at the entry of all learning areas within the school for students to sanitise their hands throughout the school day. Classrooms will be adequately ventilated according to our COVID-19 Safety Management Plan.
Canteen
The canteen is OPEN for student orders via CDF pay on Mondays and Fridays.
Wearing of School Hats – Sun Protection Policy
Just a reminder that students are required to wear their school hats in Term 4 as part of our Sun Protection Policy.
School Fee Relief for families
Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance. Please contact Jacqui Meunier – 8794 5777 jmeunier@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.
VRQA (Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority)
As part of our year in Review, we will be undertaking VRQA on Friday 29 October. In Victoria, all schools must meet the minimum standards for school registration.
The minimum standards provide a foundation for quality schools through the following areas:
- Good governance
- Strong financial management
- Effective curriculum
- Sound teaching practices and
- Safe environments for our students
Our school website has been continually updated to reflect VRQA guidelines, including policies and updated Child Safety information.
School Advisory Committee Annual General Meeting (SAC AGM) – Tuesday 23 November
The SAC AGM will be held on Tuesday 23 November at 7.00 pm. If you would like to nominate to be a parent representative on the School Advisory Committee, please leave your name at the administration office or email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au
If you have any questions regarding the role of SAC, please do not hesitate to contact us.
October Month of Mission – Socktober & Universal Children’s Week
Due to current restrictions the celebration of Children’s Week in our school community will coincide with the return of all students to face to face learning on Friday 5th November. Parents are asked to complete the Operoo permission eform in order for students to enjoy the special treats during the day, celebrating National Children’s Week. Students will also have the opportunity to take part in Socktober, an initiative of global mission, raising awareness and funds for critical projects supporting vulnerable children in developing countries, in particular a Kindergarten in Bangkok that provides a safe learning environment for children and life-changing empowerment for their mothers. A $2 donation per student would be greatly appreciated for Catholic Mission.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Mark 10:46-52 Jesus restores sight to the blind man, Bartimaeus
In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that we can be persistent about bringing our needs to him. We learn from the Gospel passage what happened when a man named Bartimaeus brought his need to Jesus. Bartimaeus was blind. He did not stop asking Jesus for help. Bartimaeus had faith in Jesus. Jesus told Bartimaeus that his faith had saved him.
God wants us to have so much faith in him that we do not let anyone else stop us from praying to him. We can pray for God’s help whenever we need to and as many times as we need to. God is always with us. He loves us, and he wants to help us.
Child Safety and Wellbeing
At Mary MacKillop Primary School, we believe that ensuring the safety of the students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. We adhere to Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 870. We embed a culture of child safety and the matter is taken very seriously.
“Children are the future of the human family: all of us are expected to promote their growth, health and tranquillity,” Pope Francis 2021
Resources to support parents and carers
Helping your family manage uncertainty - The past couple of years have been stressful for families everywhere. There’s a lot parents can do to help children deal with uncertainty, while building a sense of family cohesiveness.
The full article is attached below:
Our Lady Help of Christians Parish
Sacramental Celebrations- First Eucharist Celebration Masses
A letter has been sent by the Parish notifying families of children who have been part of this year’s Sacrament preparations for First Eucharist. Parents need to contact the Parish with the necessary information as listed in the letter. Once the Parish has received the details you will be advised which mass families can attend.
Parish Information
Mary MacKillop Primary School is one of the three Parish Primary Schools belonging to the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren within the Diocese of Sale. Fr Brendan Hogan is our Parish Priest and Fr Isuru Weliwatte is our Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School.
Parish Bulletin - Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter:
こんにちは,
This week Senior students designed and described Japanese houses. Junior students wrote a sentence using hiragana characters. We will turn these into a class book about farm animals.
Last week we harvested from our MMPS Veggie Garden, spinach, carrots and parsley. Our carrots may have been planted a bit too close to each other so came out a little bit small but they were packed with flavour according to the students who couldn’t believe that how a carrot really tasted.
We hope that our on-site students found some tasty recipes to cook with our school grow veggies. There are still lots of veggies out there to harvest in the next few weeks which we are all looking forward to!
